Alzheimer’s center opening in June

The newest Baldwin City business, ComfortCare Homes, will open in June and will be the only facility in Baldwin that handles the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Doug Stark created ComfortCare Homes in Wichita 18 years ago. Scott Schultz, President of the ComfortCare Homes in Baldwin City, licenses the ComfortCare Homes’ name, logo, forms and training, but the Baldwin City house is locally owned and operated.

“It’s really going to create a community opportunity for these elderly folks to remain in their own community,” Schultz said. “And in a home-like setting, if they can no longer be at home, this is the next best thing.”

Schultz and his wife Linda Schultz, director of the ComfortCare Home in Baldwin City who will manage the daily operation, will be the principal owners, and will also hire eight full and part-time workers. Registered nurse Stephanie Lang has already been hired, but other hires are still in the process. All workers will be either registered nurses or certified medication aids.

“We started to tour other residential care homes and became nearly convicted that this was something we wanted to do with the rest of our lives,” Scott Schultz said.

The Baldwin City house will have six residents, and Schultz said this size would be better than larger facilities.

“The reason so few is the smaller atmosphere is better for folks who have this memory issue,” Schultz said. “It doesn’t cause as much confusion and anxiety as the larger facilities.”

The Schultz’s have lived in Baldwin City since 1991 and Scott Schultz said this has been something that “really was in our hearts to bring to this community.”

“We’re just grateful for the opportunity to care for folks who are struggling, and their families that are struggling with Alzheimer’s and dementia-type issues,” Schultz said. “We really look forward to serving the Baldwin community for years to come.”